The Loup City Northwestern

SMILEY IN HARD LUCK
Loses a Valuable Stock of Goods Besides His Wife.

AN ATTORNEY IS UNDER ARREST.
A Bill of Sale of His Stock to a Party of Strangers Proves a Bad Break-Commissioner Kent Says Fire Escapes Must Be Erected - Miscellaneous Nebraska News.

PONCA, Neb., Jan. 15.-William H. Smiley, formerly a prominent business man at Emerson, this county, told County Attorney Hench that he is the victim of a conspiracy whereby he has lost a valuable stock of goods, besides his wife, as to whose value he is just now uncertain.

Smiley says he became somewhat involved with wholesale houses, but had he been left alone he would have managed to pay out. Early in December he was led to believe, he says, that he would be arrested and sent to prison because of certain features of this indebtedness. Strong influences were brought to bear, his wife added the weight of her earnest advice and he finally made a bill of sale of his stock to a firm of strangers and, although they paid him no money, left the city, trusting to his wife and a local attorney, R. B. Thompson, to look after his interests. He remained away until December 30.

Returning at night, Smiley says he found his wife, Thompson and others at his home and appearances did not indicate a mourning party. Disgusted, Smiley again left Emerson, returning to learn that his property was all gone his wife had left for parts unknown to him at present and that his father had paid all his indebtedness.

After hearing Smiley's story County Attorney Hench filed a complaint against Thompson, charging him with obtaining money under false pretenses. Thompson was arrested by the sheriff.